Experience-dependent loss of cross-modal plasticity in mouse visual cortex
Contributors: Lichtman, Jeff; Born, Richard; Arlotta, Paola; Burkhalter, Andreas
Published: 2012
Language: eng
Description: We perceive the world through sensory experience. Sensory information is registered and processed by our brain in a modality specific fashion. Interestingly, studies have shown that the visual cortex of early but not late blind subjects is able to respond to touch or sound (Sadato et al., 1996; Buchel et al., 1998; Weeks et al., 2000; Gougoux et al., 2009). Here, we investigated whether sensory parcellation in adult cortex is innate or is acquired during early postnatal life in an experience-dependent manner. Furthermore, we studied the anatomical substrates and molecular pathways possibly involved in cross-modal activation and its plasticity.
Notes: Keywords: arealization, cortical specificity, development, mouse visual cortex, multisensory, sensory experience.

Thesis Ph.D. Harvard University 2012